Abia Assembly Bill Aims To Curb Ex-Governors, Deputies Pensions – CHSR
The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has applauded the Abia House of Assembly for passing a bill to revoke pensions for former governors and deputies in the state.
The President of CHSR, Mr Alex Omotehinse gave the commendation in an interview with Newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.
Omotehinse urged other state legislatures to copy the Abia example and make laws that would enhance the progress of their respective states.
Omotehinse particularly called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to revisit a similar bill before it and ensure expeditious passage.
According to him, the bill, if passed in Lagos, would reduce the cost of governance and redirect resources towards development.
Omotehinse recalled that the CHSR, in 2021, started the advocacy for the repeal of the Lagos State ex-governor and deputies pension law of the state.
“The Lagos State House of Assembly should take the bull by the horns and revisit the law in the state to fully abolish it and convert the resources for a more reasonable project in the state.
“This has been the CHSR’s position since 2020 when we submitted our position letter to the Assembly some time in 2020.
“We are surprised that the Lagos Assembly has refused to act until now.
“We believe they (the lawmakers) will be left with no other option but to follow suit with the precedent that has just been laid by the Abia State House of Assembly,” he said.
He said that the advocacy group believed that, if achieved, such funds would be diverted for people-oriented projects in the state.
The Abia Assembly had on Tuesday passed a bill titled “A Bill (H.A.B 11:) for a Law to Revoke The Abia State Governors and Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters connected therewith.”
If the bill is assented to by the state governor, former governors of the state and their deputies will no longer enjoy pension benefits.
The Lagos State Assembly had on May 25, 2021, passed for second reading a bill seeking to repeal the law which grants pension and other emoluments to former governors and deputies.
The House Committee on Establishment,
Training and Pension in the amendment bill on the state Pension Law for former governors and other political office holders, recommended reduction of their benefits and emoluments by 50 per cent.
NAN/Victoria Ibanga
